Since 2005, Connecticut offered [[civil union]]s with the same rights as [[same sex marriage]].<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/domestic-partnership-in-the-united-states Answers.com]</ref> In October of 2008, the Connecticut high court, by a 4-3 vote, ruled that even if civil unions have all of the same rights as traditional marriage, that the state had no choice but to allow [[gay marriage|gay couples to marry]]. Connecticut was the third U.S. state to do so.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081010/ap_on_re_us/connecticut_same_sex_marriage Connecticut high court rules gay couples can marry]</ref> Between that time and the start of cermonies on November 12th, 2008, California voters rescinded judicial decisions and restored traditional marriage in a [[Proposition 8|referendum]]. The people of Connecticut rejected an amendment to their constitution to remove gay marriage. For the three years that civil unions were in place for gay couples, on average only 700 unions were requested per year, a tiny percentage.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,450648,00.html</ref>

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Since 2005, Connecticut offered [[civil union]]s with the same rights as [[same sex marriage]].<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/domestic-partnership-in-the-united-states Answers.com]</ref> In October of 2008, the Connecticut high court, by a 4-3 vote, ruled that even if civil unions have all of the same rights as traditional marriage, that the state had no choice but to allow [[gay marriage|gay couples to marry]]. Connecticut was the third U.S. state to do so.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081010/ap_on_re_us/connecticut_same_sex_marriage Connecticut high court rules gay couples can marry]</ref> Between that time and the start of cermonies on November 12th, 2008, California voters rescinded the ruling of activist judges and restored traditional marriage in a [[Proposition 8|referendum]]. The people of Connecticut rejected an amendment to their constitution to remove gay marriage. For the three years that civil unions were in place for gay couples, on average only 700 unions were requested per year.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,450648,00.html</ref>

State

Civil Unions and Gay Marriage

Since 2005, Connecticut offered civil unions with the same rights as same sex marriage.[3] In October of 2008, the Connecticut high court, by a 4-3 vote, ruled that even if civil unions have all of the same rights as traditional marriage, that the state had no choice but to allow gay couples to marry. Connecticut was the third U.S. state to do so.[4] Between that time and the start of cermonies on November 12th, 2008, California voters rescinded the ruling of activist judges and restored traditional marriage in a referendum. The people of Connecticut rejected an amendment to their constitution to remove gay marriage. For the three years that civil unions were in place for gay couples, on average only 700 unions were requested per year.[5]